WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Harry Belafonte, a legendary singer, actor and humanitarian, will speak at Purdue University next month.

Belafonte will give the keynote address at Purdue's annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy on Jan. 17. The event is free and open to the public.

"I call it our gift to the Greater Lafayette community because it’s not only for faculty and students, but we also look forward to having members of the community come out and hear him as well," said Renee Thomas, director of the Black Cultural Center and co-chair of the Martin Luther King Planning Committee.

After the Civil Rights Movement, Belafonte continued to be an avid activist, contributing to the fight against famine in African countries, which included spurring the production of the 1985 single, "We Are the World." More recently, he's worked to combat gang violence.

"Over his lifetime, he (has been) such a tremendous humanitarian," Thomas said.